I give up...help me choose between Wellesley, Carleton, and NYU

Parents Forum
1

<p>Well, I didn't really want to, but I've decided to throw myself to the mercy of the Parents Forum :). </p>

<p>Here's some of what I want: Academically, I'm interested in math, economics, and history, and I am almost positive that I will eventually attend grad school. Locationally, I'd prefer to leave the Midwest and would like city access. Size wise, I'm not too particular. Personally, I'd like to go to a school where I will be able to grow (vague, I know, but it will come up later). I'd also like to study abroad, but I think that is pretty readily possible everywhere. </p>

<p>Here are my thoughts on each school: </p>

<p>Carleton: I feel that this is the place where it would be the easiest for me to slide right in and make friends. I also like the fact that the academic enviornment is not high-pressure--I can put pressure on myself, but others won't. However, the campus is nice but not as special as Wellesley's (tall order, I know), and generally I feel less excited about the prospect of going here. I like Northfield, and I know that if I really want I can get into Minneapolis, but that really doesn't hold the same appeal as Boston or NYC. Just seems much quieter and much less exciting. </p>

<p>Wellesley: The school with the biggest upside and the biggest downside. The upside to me is the intellectualism, the cross-registration with MIT, the beautiful campus, and the storied Wellesley Network. Downside is the lack of social scene--when I was at Spring Open Campus, the phrase of the day was "Take the Bus". While Boston access is nice, being that I am not an extroverted person and I will not, as many of the women that I met there did, know anyone going to college in Boston, I am concerned that it will just be too hard for me to form a social life outside of my friends at Wellesley. This is where the "want to grow" thing comes up--at Wellesley, I am worried that I could simply stay in my room and study and never have much of an impetus to leave. Also, my parents and I are concerned that the academic atmosphere at Wellesley might be TOO intense, that the students there might be TOO driven for my taste. One of my host's friends spent her 21st birthday doing a physics problem set...yeah, it was due the next day, but that's pretty rough. </p>

<p>NYU: I'm in the CAS at NYU, and I would be a Presidential Honors Scholar were I to attend. The perks of that are special seminars, lectures, community service groups, extremely cheap additional study abroad trips, ($300) and a price break ($10,000/yr scholarship as long as I stay in good standing in the program). If I went to NYU, my AP credit could go pretty far and I could potentially graduate a semester or more early. I don't know if I really want that, but it is another option to have. I also find myself extremely captivated by the prospect of living in the city, and the dorms are nice, too. NYU is kind of a middle ground--not as "safe", for lack of a better term, as Carleton, but not as risky (IMO) as Wellesley. I feel like I could reasonably do what it takes to get involved at NYU, and I'm not sure that I could at Wellesley. </p>

<p>So, I'm kind of leaning towards NYU, but I do worry a bit that it isn't quite at the academic level, at least for CAS, of Carleton and Wellesley. My parents assure me that they think it is, but I'm really not so sure. I certainly find NYC and NYU alluring, but then I also am finding it difficult to leave Wellesley behind. So, tell me what you think and whether anything that I said or that you know is standing out to you. Thanks!</p>

<p>Edit: I forgot to say that money really isn't a factor--NYU is about $7000 cheaper, but my parents will pay for me to go to whatever school I want. It's just a nice bonus.</p>

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<p>I don't think Wellesley is much tougher than your other schools. A lot of the thinking on women's schools is old. When they didn't have to compete with ivies 30 years ago they got the smartest women in the Country. That's not true with a majority of women being uninterested in all women's colleges now. I'm one. The social livies at those schools suck for the mainstream girl.</p>

<p>I'd go to NYU since you got the perks.</p>

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<p>I'd choose between NYU and Wellesley.</p>

<p>There's not much going on in Northfield, MN.</p>

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<p>NYU. </p>

<p>PM soozievt about the Presidential Scholars program--I think her daughter is one and has LOVED it. What a bonus for an introvert--instant parties and introductions!</p>

<p>I'm not sure what the program entails--but lay out your course choices for four years incl semesters abroad--and see if you are able to take the mouth watering courses that you want. If not, call NYU and negotiate a 'pass' on core courses that might be a repeat for you.</p>

<p>New York is a fantastic city--and NYU has the best location of all the schools in the city--which means that NYU will have some amazing professors. They can't all teach at Columbia. </p>

<p>Get online and find out from the forums--who are the best professors? and which courses are the most stimulating? You can get an amazing educaiton at NYU--with advance planning.</p>

<p>Congrats</p>

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<p>Personally, I think the academics at NYU are way overrated, and are easily matched at a large number of state universities. And I think it is way overpriced as well.</p>

<p>That said, the experience of living, studying, exploring, and perhaps working in New York City is a splendid opportunity (and one which very few people get after graduation). So if the City calls to you, and you can afford it, I'd be sorely tempted.</p>

<p>And $28k saved isn't chopped liver. (Well, maybe it is....)</p>

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<p>If you are interested in math, NYU has the Courant Institute. If you are torn between different majors, Wellesley, Carleton, and NYU all have great programs.<br>
If you're concerned about isolation, Northfield is a very small town and Minneapolis is a 45 minutes drive away. But I liked Carleton very much when I visited there many years ago.
Wellesley does empty on weekends because of the lure of Boston/Cambridge; but there should still be plenty to do on weekends.
As for doing psets on one's birthday: it depends on when your B-day falls and what your major is. S is/has/will be stuck with doing psets on his B-day. Can't help it.</p>

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<p>I would go with NYU...when you wrote what you thought about the schools, it seemed to me that you were most exicted about NYU.</p>

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<p>I think I would choose Wellesley if I were you, but that is an extremely tough decision, I am honestly not sure what to do in that case. also im not a girl so it sounds weird that I would choose an all girls school haha</p>

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<p>Yes, I am leaning towards NYU. I don't want to suggest that the price break isn't nice--not at all!--but I just wanted to convey that that really wasn't a factor in the decision. I AM a bit worried about the academics at NYU...I know I will get a good education, but I do wonder if it isn't just that. That's where I am really reticent. </p>

<p>I am aware that the applied math program at NYU is strong, but I don't really know much about it or whether it will apply to me. Of course, math is hardly set in stone, but, you know.</p>

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<p>You do have to somewhat make your own challenge at a big place like NYU. The challenge is certianly there. You have to do the legwork to find out where the challenge is and how you access it.</p>

<p>The beauty is thatonce you've been able to craft a great experience at a big place in a big city--you're pretty much ready to craft a great work experience in any big organization in any big city.</p>

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<p>And I would choose Carleton, except for the money, which NYU has over the other two.</p>

<p>Carleton is a fantastic school with a very interesting student body. But, I also think the fit of those three schools is very different, and that the same student is not going to be happy, necessarily at three such disparate schools.</p>

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<p>personally I am not a fan of NYU, I have known many students that went there and most were not satisfied with their experience. Academically as well, Carleton and Wellesley will provide better educations at the undergrad level than NYU. Living in NYC isnt all its cracked up to be, its a great place to go for a day, but from someone who has lived there, I cant see how someone would want to go to college there.</p>

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<p>Three very different choices, but NYU is the most different. It is not like going to a traditional college campus at all; more like living in the city with your "job" being your classes.</p>

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<p>I know we always say that any of the choices will work out fine, but...it's true. that being said, I suspect the academics at NYU will probably be the most uneven. That's not necessarily bad thing, but it's likely the way it is. It sounds like the major advantage to NYU is living in the city. I suspect that it would be more fun to do as a graduate student, or postcollege, but admittedly the housing costs are to be considered.
Wellesley has spectacular academics, and has been doing very high quality academics since forever. Economics is a powerhouse, history is likely v good, and I don't know about math - prob. v. good, being wellesley, but there is always MIT. The setting in gorgeous. Admiteedly it's not in the city, so you'd have to bestir yourself some to get in But I hear that people do it.. Seems like a v friendly place. I suspect that the premed studenst are driven (this is true lots of places), but otherwise I doubt it's ultracompetitive. Pace Suze, I think that W has held its own even post coeducation. Being male, I never attended, but lots of friends have, and they had a terrific time on both academic and social levels. (For all of them, the choice was to go to W because of academics, spectacular campus, etc. The single sex thing was never a draw, but a factor to be considered and dealt with.)
Carleton is where it is. Academically said to be very good, and prob getting better known on the east coast than it had been the past (not that name recognition matters). But...it is where it is. Maybe the Twin Cities are nice if you can get in there.
I think the choice should be W vs living in NY. Personally, I would choose W, but I don't know you or how important the living-in-the-city thing is to you. But if you go to NYU, the city, not the school , would be the reason.</p>

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<p>Wellesley and Carleton would be the two "safe" choices. You will slide right in and be ready to roll, without much adjustment or effort. At both schools, your education will come more from what happens inside the classroom, and your environment will be more controlled. </p>

<p>NYU is the "tough love" choice. You'll need to be more pro-active and take charge about all facets of your experience - from seeking out the best professors to dealing with the stresses of city life to finding your niche socially. At NYU, your education will, to a great extent, be what you make it, and much of your most important learning will happen outside of the classroom. Sometimes, however, the "tough love" choice is the one where you grow the most inside. </p>

<p>So, ask yourself: How ready are you for the challenges each school will offer? And, which school experience will help shape you into the person you most want to be in four years? </p>

<p>Once you make your choice, don't look back.</p>

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<p>If Carleton were in Amherst, Mass., would you lean toward it then? I think it is the best academic and social experience of the three. At the same time, I'm a big advocate of experiencing a different part of the country in the college years. This could be finessed by study abroad/terms at different schools.
Anyway, you seem like you are more on top of the issues involved than 99% of the kids in your situation. You have some nice options!</p>

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<p>A former student (male) was a math major at Carleton. He found it supportive, enthralling, intellectual.... and Carleton has an astonishingly successful record of graduating about 95% of its incoming freshlings in just four years. </p>

<p>Between Wellesley and NYU, I'd take Wellesley if I liked the country and NYU if I loved the city. If you're not sure about cities, NYC is not a good place to be!</p>

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<p>A vote for Wellesley from a women's college graduate from many years ago, way back when our social life had to consist of commuting on weekends to men's colleges (remember them, anyone?). You will have a social life--don't worry. But MOST important, you will be in a setting where you can make women friends who will always be there for you, for the rest of your life, through thick and thin. This has been true for me--a classic introvert. And yes, the work will be challenging, but isn't that a good thing?</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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<p>As a current freshman at Carleton, I absolutely love telling people that they should come here. However, I'm not going to this time. Your lack of enthusiasm tells me that this may not be the place for you. Instead, I will strongly recommend that you go to Wellesley. The only thing that seems to be holding you back from making this decision is "can I do it?"-style self doubt. I almost turned down my first choice school (Carleton-a great place; I really wish you were more interested. ) because I was afraid I might not be able to "do it" academically and socially. I have learned that you never know what you are capable of until you try. NYU, with its cheaper pricetag and other various perks, seems like the "logical" choice if you truly have no preference at all. Therefore, something about Wellesley is calling out to you on a deeper level. I think the most important sentence in your post is "I certainly find NYC and NYU alluring, but then I also am finding it difficult to leave Wellesley behind." The positives you list about Wellesley are emotional ("intellectualism", "beautiful", etc.), whereas the positives about NYU are facts (scholarship, credits transfer, etc.) I urge you to go where (I think) your heart is leading you. Good luck!</p>

<p>PS: According to the people I have talked to from each institution, NYU is MUCH more socially isolating than Wellesley, where the women tend to form very deep, meaningful friendships.</p>

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<p>Hmmm, you've all given me some good advice. Though they certainly will allow me to pick whichever school I like, my parents are very reticent about Wellesley--especially my father. Basically, they are extremely concerned that, since I am not particularly outgoing, I will have a really tough time establishing a social life beyond the Wellesley campus. I do have the email address of my Spring Open Campus host, so I think I'm going to drop her a line early tomorrow and try to clear up (or confirm) some of my and their worries.</p>

<p>I don't know why, but I thought that this decision would be MUCH easier! I just can't make up my mind.</p>